Rare disease almost kills 2 Toowoomba newborns

by ElouiseQuinlivan

Elouise Quinlivan
Journalist
I studying Journalism and Education at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, with distinction.
Before finishing uni I published articles and features in magazines such as the Australian Books Arts Journal and No Cure magazine as well as running a mini street-press for Toowoomba called ‘The Postbox’.
Travelling became the backbone of my writing and arts work throughout the past few years, travelling to regional areas across the East Coast to...

"It's a wait-and-see game. The doctors don't know the disease well enough to know what the future holds," she said.

"It's very scary. Every time she does a sneeze now I freak out.

"Her medical records are being used for medical journals because it's so unknown."

Tinley was born on December 2 at St Vincent's Hospital via caesarean, and after being sent home healthy, was rushed to the Toowoomba Hospital on December 18 when she became lethargic and was not eating.

More than one month later, he is fighting for life in intensive care at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital.

He has been diagnosed with the more common disease enterovirus, a group of viruses that includes parechovirus, confirmed via a lumbar puncture at St Vincent's.

The two families have contacted each other to offer support and share what is known about the disease which has no vaccine.

"We were told a few times he might not make it, that he might die," Lincoln's mum Zoe Elwell said.

"It is rare that it attacked Lincoln's heart, because this disease is not usually as severe. It's all your worst nightmares at once.

LITTLE FIGHTER: Toowoomba baby Lincoln Elwell before he fell ill.

"A first-time mum might not recognise the signs, but people need to be aware that if your baby isn't looking well, you need to get them to a doctor."

A Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman said symptoms of parechovirus included high temperatures, diarrhoea, abnormally rapid breathing, severe irritability or appearing to be in pain, rashes or skin discolouration and jerking movements.

Babies under three months are more likely to suffer severe symptoms of the virus, which is spread via respiratory droplets, saliva and faeces.

St Vincent's Hospital director of clinical services Jeff Potter said the hospital was aware of Queensland Health advice about a recent increase in parechovirus seen at the Gold Coast University and Lady Cilento hospitals.

"We have alerted our maternity service, special care nursery and children's ward about the increase in human parechovirus cases and our staff are vigilant about escalating any case that may indicate signs of this group of viruses," he said.

Lady Cilento's Infection Management Prevention Service confirmed between January 1 and December 28, 2015 there were 22 cases of parechovirus at the hospital.